Monorail track



June 23, 1931. G. c. HENDERSON MONORAIL TRACK Filed Feb. 10. 1930 0 i a. V|I

Seo INVENTOR e ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 PATENT GFFHCE f y GEORGE C. HENDERSON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN nommait TRACK Application filed February 10, 17930. Serial N o. 427,207.

This-invention relates to railway tracks, and particularly to mono-rail tracks.

An object of the-invention is to provide a track comprising a pair of parallel rails, so 5 vertically spacedthat their engagement by -wheels mounting and suspending a Vcar will largely restrain the car from side sway.

Another object isy to so insulate said rails from each other that they may form opposite .10 sides of an electric circuit, energizing the drive motor of said car.

A further object is to form such a pair of spaced rails of sheet metal strips rolled to a U cross section, and to space them apart by is plates'of insulating material having opposite margins fitting into and rigidly secured in the openings of said rails. 1

Still another object is to provide improved means for quickly establishing both an elec- 20 trical and mechanical connection between the ends of adjacent sections of a mono-rail track.

These and various other objects the invention attains by the construction hereinafter 25 described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in end elevation of the improved track, as particularly adapted for toy railway use, showing one of the track supports .'30 rand indicating a car arranged to travel on said track. Y

Fig. 2 is a' view of a length ofthe track in side elevation and partial section.

of the track. f Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the same, taken upon the line-4-4 of Fig. 2.

Y Fig. 5 is a' perspective view of one of the insulating plates and its attached metal side plates.

vIn these views, the reference character 1 designates a pair of rails formed from sheet metal strips rolled or otherwise fashioned to a U cross section. Said rails are spaced rigidly apart in a parallel relation by a-plurality of insulating plates 2, 3, and 4, whereof any suitablefnumber may be employed. In a f track of toy proportions, these plates maybe vstamped from sheet fibre or the like. The

50. rails l kstraddle respectively the upper and Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view ofa section lower margins of said plates,and are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, as indicated .at 5. The plates 2 and 4 are spaced from the bendsof the rails 1, and a pair of .connectors 6, formed of stiff wire are peri' inanently engaged between each plate 2l and said bends, projecting beyond the adjacent screws 10. A car operating on said track is indicated at 11, and 12 and 13 designate wheels engaging respectively the upper and lower rails of'said track and journaled upon a standard 14 rigidly surmounting sai-d car. Preferably a pair'of metal plates 15 are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the plates 2 and 4 at each side` thereof, providing bearing faces for engagement by the posts 9 and screws 10. e Y

The parts of the describedtrack are inexpensive and readily assembled, and the c-onstruction lends itself to the use of machinery in effecting assembly.

While the construction as illustrated is" Y particularly designed for toy purposes, the structural principles involved are more or less applicable to full size mono-rail systems. The vertically spaced relation of the rails established by the invention is particularly desirable in providing for use of upper Vand lower'grooved wheels supporting a suspended car, and restraining the car from side sway, such restraint being particularly necessary when the car is making afturn.

While it is apparent that Vthe illustrated embodiment offniyinventio'n herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it -is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and l'.y A mono-rail track comprising change within the spirit and scopeof the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: Y

v a pair of spaced upper and-.lower rails, and a plate of insulation Arigidly connecting said rails.V

er portions straddled by said rails,and a pair of connectors secured between said plate and the'U bends of said rails, and projecting bey yond an end of said track.

4. A mono-rail track ,comprising a pair of spaced upper and lower railsof U section, an

insulating plate having its upper and lower ets aligned longitudinallyrof thesection with said connectors, and proportioned to frictionally retain the connectorsof an adjoining section. Y Y' 10.. A mono-rail track comprising apaircf spaced conductive rail members, means rigidlypconnecting said railmembers, insulating l them from each other, and a pair of c0nnectors secured by the last named means in indi- Vidual electrical contact with said rail members, and projecting beyond corresponding ends of said rail members.

In testimony whereof I'sign this specification. l y

GfliORGrll C. HENDERSON.

portions straddled by saidrails, and having f notches in'said port-ions, and -a pair oi connectors snugly engaged between said plate and the U bends of said connectors and having ends bent .toward each other and'engaged in said notches tohold said connectors projecting beyond an end of the track.

5; A mono-rail track comprising a pairv of spaced upper and lower rails of U section, insulating plates rrigidly connecting the end port-ions of said rails, and marginally strad- `dled by said rails, the Vupper and lower edgesy ofeach plate being correspondingly spaced from the U bends of said rails, and a pair of connectorssnugly retained between one of said platesv and said U bends, the spaces between'theyothe'r of said plates and said U bends forming'sockets to'eng'age similarconnectors on another' such section of track.

6. A monorail track coinprising'a kpair of electrically conductivel rails of U sectiornand means straddled by each of said rails rigidlyV Y connecting said rails and insulating them fromfeach other.;

of.- U section, an.v insulating memberistraddled c said rail and spaced from the bend of said railto form a pocket, a connector. insertediinf said pocket and projecting beyond an end of the rail, and means securing said insulating member to said rail. f

Y 8. The construction set forth in claim 7, the A' insulating member having anotch opposed to the-bend of said rail, and said connector being bent to 'engage in saidnotch.

9; A monofjrail track section, comprising a pair ofspaced rails, forming opposite sides of an electric circuit,l means rigidly connecting said rails yandinsulating them from each other, and apair of connectors electrically and mechanically connected to said rails at onefend of. said .section and' projecting beyondisaid end, the railsbeing formed at the Y other end ofsaid Vsection with a pair of sock-- +7. VIn a, mono-rail track, av conductive rail 

